The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse, Chapter 15: Spreading “The Gospel”
We continue our Thursday series blogging through “The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse.” The first post in the series is here.
Are we spreading the heavenly message that was announced with “Peace on earth, good will towards men,” or are we recruiting people to religion? Paul warned in Galatians 6:13 about those who wanted to “boast in the flesh” based on manipulating the believers into spiritual performance.
Telling the “Good News” — or “Recruiting”?
While a student at Bethel, Johnson (one of the authors) was approached by students from a nearby school who were on a recruiting mission. Rather than bringing excitement about God’s love, he realized that they were laying a load of guilt and shame on him, resulting in his feeling defensive and wanting to prove that he was truly a believer. Reflecting later, he realized they did not seem to be looking out for his good but rather doing something for their own benefit.
This experience led to the question we opened the summary with: In our own outreach, are we recruiting people to religion or bringing them the good news?
Converted to Religion
It seems that the Pharisees believed in two levels of conversion: the proselyte at the gate and the proselyte of righteousness. The first level was a simple believer in God; the second level was a conversion to becoming like the Pharisees. Rather than converting to the one true God, it seems the priority was to convert people to religion. So Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.”
Questions for discussion: Are we guilty of making proselytes rather than making disciples today? Is it possible that we are sometimes more interested in recruiting people to a denomination, a tradition, or a spiritual system rather than bringing them to Christ? Are there any corrections we should make to our methods or message to address this?
“I’m of Paul!” “I’m of Apollos!”
Jon’s family enjoyed watching Billy Graham crusades on TV, and they rejoiced to see people going forward. However, their joy would inevitably turn to disappointed debate about the results of those who went forward because Graham would encourage them simply to go to a church where they could grow and worship God. Jon’s family’s protest was that Graham should have encouraged people to go to their specific denomination. It is a problem if we are more interested in converting people to our denomination than to loving Jesus.
Similarly, Johnson had an experience at a denominational meeting where the cry was sounded, “we are losing our young people”; but this meant, not that young people were leaving the faith, but that some young people were going into ministry in another denomination. Here again, if a net gain for the kingdom is viewed rather as a net loss for a particular denomination, we may have prioritized making converts to our denomination over reconciling people to loving Jesus. This is a modern-day version of what Paul addressed in 1 Corinthians 3, where he stated that there are those who plant and those who water but it is God who gives the growth. This as opposed to the “I am of Paul; I am of Apollos” attitude of division and sectarianism.
From the chapter:
Instead of several smaller quotes,here is a longer quote from the conclusion:
Does the “good news” you are hearing, or preaching, bring you to life and spiritual health, or does it not?
If the message you are hearing or preaching does not lift weights off people, set people free, and reconnect people to the true source of life — then is it the gospel?
If it is not the gospel, what will it do to its hearers?
We believe that the effect of trying to live under any message that is not the authentic “good news” from God will not be merely neutral. The effects will be harmful. (p. 168)
Personal Interaction
I see once again the theme of doing things for selfish reasons vs. truly serving and caring about the good of other people. As one who is in ministry, I am convicted and provoked to keep asking myself whether my motives are for my own good or if my priority is truly the good of the people around me. I believe the difference between “gospeling” and recruiting has earned evangelicals a black eye at times. I believe the solution is not to be terrified of saying anything at all, but rather to honestly care about the good of others, making an honest attempt to introduce them to the life that is in Christ, and being a true friend regardless of how others exercise their God-given freedom to make their own decisions.
(Click here to go on to Chapter 16)
Reimagining Church by Frank Viola. Good read. Read it all and it should curb the desire for Spiritual Abuse.
Hmm. Reading what I have of Viola's (and George Barna's) book, Pagan Christianity, I'm a bit unimpressed. They oversimplify the "institutional" church's "pagan" connections, and even if they are right, they end up rather mystically blaming the Things rather than abusive human hearts. (See also: blaming rock music instead of fornication, Harry Potter instead of personal selfishness sand desire to practice "magic.") This is not necessarily a total criticism, simply a recognition that "everything you thought you knew about X is wrong" is a very limited approach. In the case of that book, it's coupled with flawed research, and definitely a bias in favor of supposedly more-spiritual "house church" practices.
For all its flaws, as time goes by, I see more and more the wisdom of the church, the body, the bride. I think some local churches are toxic and to be avoided but the overall shape of being part of an organic, growing body is exactly the right thing.
Matthew, thanks for leading this study of the Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse. I've enjoyed reading it and learning to recognize the abuse of God's word and His Bride.
Last summer I happened to be walking through a city where I was a stranger and came upon a few people setting up musical instruments in the town square. I decided to stop and listen to their music. Then I found out that it was a group from a local church. As the rest of the group arrived, the people from the church gathered around the gazebo.The leader led them in singing along with the instruments. It was like they brought their private church service to the middle of the city. They stood out from the passersby in the way they grouped together. It made me think of a flock of sheep feeling insecure in a threatening situation. The people passing by were visibly uncomfortable and tryed to avoid the church people who were passing tracts to them. Of course, the children were most successful in handing them to passing people.
I was sitting on a bench near the group and no one tryed to talk to me. I wondered why. Did I look too fierce? I was a mother with my two daughters. Quite unintimidating, I think.
The whole scene was quite interesting, as I have been involved in similar situations with my own church. Now I was able to watch as an observer rather than as a participant. I had to examine my own attitude and motives for my behavior in such a group. Who was I really trying to impress? My pastor, the other people of my church, or the Lord? Was I motived by love for the Lord and the wandering sheep, or by gaining approval from my group?I have to admit that my motives were not God's glory, but something very carnal, my own glory.
This chapter of the book helped me realize that what we may call evangelizing may not actually be evangelizing. We need to rethink how we do share the Good News effectively. Got suggestions, anyone?
I have been in a similar situation - being witnessed to in a park and then analyzing my own motives in times past as a "witnesser". I think the most effeective way to share is to serve. I have found that when I serve someone with pure motives the Lord often opens doors to simply and honestly share what the Lord has done in my life. When you walk openly and honestly before God and man, spend much time in the Word and Christ is your passion, sharing just kind of happens - it is a natural biproduct of walking with the Lord.... to live is Christ. Motives are huge.
Some good thoughts. But please be slow to criticizes people for sharing the Gospel. Always stop and examine our own hearts on why we are being critical of our brothers and sisters who are sincerely trying to serve the Lord by sharing about Him. Before we criticize the manner in which others are trying to witness in the wrong way, let's make sure we're sharing the Gospel in the right way. Are we trying to justify ourselves for not sharing the Gospel? Remember Paul in Philippians 1:18 "What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice."
With that said, I think it would be good if RG covered how Mr. G thinks preaching Christ's commands is the Gospel or the pressures to share a message we are not really sure of ourselves. I have found when we actually know the truths of the Gospel, we are more likely to automatically share it with others. The reason we don't share or are afraid of sharing or mess up sharing is because we don't have a proper understanding of the Gospel. Mr. G isn't helping people have a proper understanding of the Gospel.
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